Why does Zrii highlight the Amalaki fruit?
Central to the vast science of Ayurveda is one little green fruit with a nutritional profile that sits in a class of its own. Amalaki (emblica officinalis) grows at the base of the pristine Himalayan mountain range in northern India. In its extensive collection of thousands of fruits and herbs, Ayurveda describes Amalaki as the single most important 'rasayana' or rejuvenating agent for promoting cellular rejuvenation and detoxification, immune function and increased vitality.
Backed by a 5000-year-old science, Amalaki has one of the richest and most documented legacies of any fruit known today. It has been revered in India as the "Great Rejuvenator," the "Nurse" and the "Fruit of Immortality" for centuries due to its numerous nutritional properties and its ability to nourish the body on all levels. The Amalaki fruit even has its own holiday in which families share a meal under its tree while giving thanks for the strength and luster promoted by the fruit.
In addition to being heralded for its youth-promoting and rejuvenative qualities, classical Ayurvedic texts describe Amalaki as a potent anti-inflammatory, digestive aid, elixir for the skin and hair, and metabolic enhancer. Over the past 50 years, Amalaki has been the subject of hundreds of scientific studies, which further validate what Ayurveda has known for over 5,000 years.
What nutritional components does Amalaki contain?
Unlike many superfoods being introduced today, the chemical profile of Amalaki cannot be limited to one star ingredient or beneficial compound. Instead, research has discovered an unparalleled spectrum of powerful anti-oxidants, polyphenols, tannic acids and bioflavanoids. Amalaki also contains a high concentration of amino acids, trace minerals and other beneficial phytonutrients.
Amalaki contains the potent phenolic combination of ellagic acid, gallic acid and emblicanin A+B. Together these polyphenols are important for reducing cellular and oxidative stress, destroying immune-damaging free radicals and supporting the overall detoxification of the body. The bioflavanoids, rutin and quercetin, and powerful enzyme superoxide dismutase also contribute to the overall anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and youth-promoting qualities of this remarkable fruit.
In addition to these anti-oxidants, the Amalaki fruit is widely considered to contain the most concentrated source of Vitamin C. The fruit is also host to rare 'mighty-molecules' known as ascorbagens. Part of the tannin family, ascorbagens create a protective bond around the Vitamin C molecules, making Amalaki's source of Vitamin C more heat stable and bio-available than synthetic varieties.
How is the Zrii formulation unique?
The expertise required to formulate Zrii is an important part of what makes it a stand-alone product. The formulation team - which includes world-class medical doctors, Ayurvedic physicians and practitioners and nutritional chemists - relied on both classical Ayurvedic texts and modern scientific research to determine effective quantities of the botanicals and fruit juices. All quantities were looked at closely in terms of synergistic effects and daily nutritional/therapeutic levels. The process of utilizing Amalaki and six supporting botanicals, all within an effective liquid delivery system, took over six months of research and testing.
How much of each botanical is present in Zrii?
Due to the proprietary nature of the formulation, specific amounts of botanicals are not available at this time.
There has been speculation and criticism in the broader liquid nutritional industry that functional beverages are little more than 'sugar water' and contain miniscule amounts of active ingredients. While Zrii can make no claims for the industry as a whole, from day one the formulation team has stated that the botanical dosage levels in Zrii would have to be "substantial on a per-ounce-of-product basis, in order to enact significant physiological change within the body."
What do you mean by 'synergy' and 'synergistic effects' of the botanicals?
You can think of Amalaki as the star of Zrii that uses an entire team of botanicals to further strengthen or 'potentiate' the effects of this fruit and drive them deeper into the physiology. Each botanical is included for its own unique properties and at a specific quantity on a per ounce (1 serving) basis.
The ancient texts of Ayurveda constitute some of the oldest and lengthiest medical texts in the world. Within this great collection of texts exist hundreds of finely tailored herbal mixtures, each designed to unlock the full potency of a given fruit or herb. The beneficial qualities of one plant are used to strengthen the qualities of another plant - and it is through this synergistic activity that the most complete and potent restorative effects are derived.
After months of working on the formulation, the team emerged with a product that features Amalaki and six supporting actives. Inspired by a classical Ayurvedic formulation featuring the revered botanical triad of Amalaki, Turmeric, and Tulsi, the formulation also aims to strike a broader, more global chord.
In addition to these powerful ingredients, the team drew upon the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine due to the highly complimentary and adoptogenic properties that the fruits Schizandra and Jujube share with Amalaki.
Lastly, the famed Ayurvedic fruit Haritaki was added to the blend for its mild detoxifying properties and ginger was included for its assistance in helping to digest and assimilate all of the ingredients more effectively.
In addition to helping 'potentiate' the Amalaki, each of the six supporting actives also holds widely recognized healing properties of their own, including:
- Turmeric (root)- assists the circulatory, digestive, and musculoskeletal systems; promotes healthy immune function
- Tulsi (leaf)- supports the digestive system, respiratory system and intestinal health
- Schizandra (fruit)- increases energy; supports the brain and nervous system; excellent 'brain tonic'
- Jujube (fruit)- supports the nervous system and serves as a mild "rejuvenative"
- Haritaki (fruit)- promotes tissue health and cellular rejuvenation
- Ginger (root)- supports the gastrointestinal system and promotes healthy immune function
What will prevent retail stores and knock-off brands from creating Amalaki-based products?
There is no way to fully regulate the sourcing of botanicals, which partially explains the increased demand for superfoods in recent years.
As the first company in the West to create a functional beverage utilizing the Amalaki fruit, Zrii labeled its product "The Original Amalaki" from day one. This was done, in part, with the expectation that knock-off brands will begin popping up as the benefits of Amalaki become more widely known. Market analysis suggests that this type of piggyback exposure commonly ends up creating greater demand for the original product. Zrii's world-class formulation team, wild-crafted Amalaki fruit, and complex formulation are also significant competitive advantages for the company.
How is the Amalaki fruit processed?
The Amalaki fruit is wild-crafted and cold-pressed to ensure its nutritional potency. Due to the risk of oxidation, the fruit is pressed within hours of being picked. It is then vacuum-dried using a proprietary method in order to create a pure and potent extract and then shipped to the US in airtight containers for manufacturing.
Is the Amalaki harvested in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner?
The supply of Amalaki found in Zrii comes from a highly respected, multi-generational, family-run business in Northern India. The company has provided jobs for native persons for decades in the Himalayan region where the fruit is farmed. Through being wild-crafted, the company utilizes its local contacts to harvest smaller numbers of wild trees on private plots of land. By having access to a vast network of these individual farms, the company is able to supply large quantities of Amalaki in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner. The company considers this wild-crafting process the most responsible farming method. It also leads to the purest Amalaki, which is consistent with the Ayurvedic principles at the foundation of the company.
Is there a special way to harvest the Amalaki fruit?
The Amalaki fruit in Zrii is always hand-picked. Zrii's supplier of Amalaki plants and picks the fruit in accordance with traditional Ayurvedic practices and seasonal rhythms. The "Zrii: Stars Aligning" DVD, displays a brief clip of Amalaki harvesters performing a small thanksgiving ceremony before hand picking the fruit from the tree.
Are the Botanicals in Zrii organically grown and harvested?
Purity and potency are foundational components of Zrii's formulation. For this reason, Zrii has selected organically grown and harvested sources of each botanical. This means that the seven botanicals are not grown with any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified ingredients or other unnatural chemicals. Zrii has received documentation from each supplier stating this fact, along with ongoing, batch-specific testing for pesticides, heavy metals, and other harmful materials in order to back up these claims.
At this time, USDA guidelines and international regulations prevent Zrii from using the term "organic" in reference to the botanicals in its formulation.
Where are the seven botanicals grown and harvested?
The five botanicals deriving from the 5,000-year-old system of Ayurveda (Amalaki, Turmeric, Tulsi, Haritaki, and Ginger) are grown in India.
The two botanicals deriving from the 5,000-year-old system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Schizandra and Jujube) are grown in China. Extra attention has been placed on the purity of these Chinese botanicals given recent stories in the news about toxicity in both the Chinese food supply and manufacturing industries.
How do you maintain quality during each harvest?
Zrii undergoes extensive testing measures to ensure consistent quality. Potency and purity are foundational components to the formulation. For this reason, all active botanicals are triple tested: botanicals are tested for microorganisms, pesticides, metals and other measures on the supply side, upon arrival in the US, and lastly as a finished product at the time of production. Advanced flavor technology/diagnostics are also used to ensure consistency in taste.
Are the fruit juices in Zrii organic?
The fruit juices in Zrii are currently not organic, however, Zrii continues to analyze and explore organic possibilities. One of the largest challenges has been finding a large and consistent supply of organic juices such as pomegranate, pear puree, and raspberry juice. Like the botanicals, each juice is triple tested for synthetic pesticides, bacteria, and other harmful elements. This is done on the supply side, before production, and lastly as a finished product.
Is Zrii pasteurized?
Given the presence of fruit juices, the product has to be pasteurized. Zrii employs a highly effective flash pasteurization process, which heats the drink for a shorter period of time to preserve its potency.
Does Zrii contain any artificial preservatives?
Given the presence of natural botanical preservatives in Zrii, artificial preservatives are not necessary for increasing the product's shelf life.
Tulsi, Amalaki, and Turmeric have been studied for their anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and anti-bacterial properties.
Is Zrii Tested for Heavy Metals such as Lead, Arsenic, and Mercury?
Yes. Zrii adheres to the most stringent heavy metal testing currently required by any state in the US. Potency and purity are foundational components to the formulation. For this reason, Zrii chooses to work with only the highest quality suppliers of botanicals in both India and China.
Zrii is triple tested for heavy metal and trace mineral contaminants, such as lead, arsenic and mercury. Botanicals are first tested on the supply side, again upon arrival in the US, and lastly as a finished product (with the juices) at the time of production. Zrii is also tested for microorganisms, pesticides, and several other contaminants.
How much Zrii should be consumed in a day?
The optimal serving size of Zrii is one ounce consumed 1 to 3 times a day.
This amount was set by Zrii's Scientific Advisory Board to offer a safe and physiologically significant serving level that can be enjoyed by a broad cross-section of individuals.
It is also observed in Ayurveda that breaking up the serving levels throughout the day (i.e., one ounce taken three times a day, rather than three ounces all at once) can have a deeper effect within the body.
Is it possible to consume too much of the botanicals in Zrii?
First and foremost, Zrii is a food-grade beverage. In toxicology studies, none of the seven botanicals in Zrii have been shown to be toxic when taken in large amounts.
Since the botanicals in Zrii influence particular physiological processes in the body, it is advised that individuals using medications or with pre-existing medical conditions consult their primary care physician before drinking Zrii (or any nutritional supplement).
Should Zrii be consumed on an empty stomach or with food?
This is really a matter of preference. One may notice that drinking Zrii before food allows them to feel the unique effects of the botanicals more quickly. This is because the drink enters the bloodstream more rapidly when consumed on an empty stomach.
When consuming Zrii with food, the active components will be digested along with it, driving them deeper into the tissues through the digestive process. In either scenario, the body will receive the nutritional benefits of the active ingredients. For individuals experiencing more deeply rooted or longstanding imbalances of the body, taking Zrii with food may assist the delivery process more effectively.
What if someone experiences stomach sensitivity when taking Zrii?
Like any nutritional supplement, different people will respond differently to Zrii due to their unique physiological make-ups.
Given the significant amounts of the botanicals, some people may respond differently to the individual digestive herbs - such as Ginger or Turmeric. The drink is designed to enliven the overall metabolism of the body and the enzymatic process actually begins as soon as the drink hits the tongue.
For people sensitive to the digestive herbs, we generally recommend diluting the drink with an equal part water. This changes the metabolism/absorption of the overall drink, making it less apt to cause unwanted digestive effects. In this case, we also recommend drinking Zrii with food. (Gradually increase the amount once the symptoms subside.)
Signs of digestive sensitivity may include gas, bloating, loose stools or a mild heating sensation in the stomach.
Can Zrii be taken with prescription medications?
It is always advised that individuals taking medications or with pre-existing medical conditions consult their primary care physician before consuming Zrii (or any nutritional supplement).
Zrii has not been clinically tested for prescription drug interactions or specific disease conditions. Therefore, the decision to consume Zrii while taking medication ultimately rests in the hands of the consumer and their primary care physician.
The Scientific Advisory Board of Zrii (of which some members are Western medical doctors) is currently not aware of any negative interactions between Zrii and prescription medications.
Can Zrii be consumed by someone who uses blood thinning or blood pressure medication?
Zrii has not been clinically tested for prescription drugs interactions or specific disease conditions. Therefore, the decision to consume Zrii while taking medications ultimately rests in the hands of the consumer and their primary care physician.
Turmeric and Ginger have known blood-thinning effects. In reviewing the available scientific research, however, it is the opinion of the Scientific Advisory Board of Zrii that levels of these botanicals are well within the safety window for individuals taking blood-thinning and blood-pressure medication.
Is it safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to consume Zrii?
Pregnant or lactating women should consult with their primary care physician before consuming Zrii. This recommendation is in line with general standards of healthcare in regards to the consumption of herbal supplements while pregnant or breast feeding.
There has been interest in recent years on the influence of tannin and anti-oxidant rich botanicals to potentially inhibit the absorption of iron, thus presenting a concern for pregnant or lactating women. In reviewing the available literature on Amalaki and the other 6 botanicals in Zrii, the Scientific Advisory Board feels that the levels are well within the window of safety for pregnant and lactating women. If an individual is particularly concerned about iron, the SAB would recommend consuming Zrii 30 minutes before eating.
Common herbs that have been suggested to be contraindicated for pregnancy and/ or breast feeding include:
Aloe, Buckthorn, Cascara Sagrada, Licorice, Rhubarb, Senna, Comfrey, Feverfew, Ephadra, Angelic Root/Dong Quai, Ginseng Root, Siberian Ginseng, Petasites, Uva Ursi, Kava Kava, and Goldenrod
It should be noted that in traditional Ayurvedic medicine both Amalaki and Turmeric are widely used in pregnancy. They are traditionally thought to contribute to the overall good health of a baby, while also giving them radiant skin.
Does Zrii have a laxative effect? Is this habit-forming?
Zrii is not designed to have a laxative effect. Haritaki fruit is included in Zrii to serve as a subtle detoxifying agent. Amalaki and Haritaki are used together in the well-known, classical Ayurvedic formulation, Triphala. Upon initially taking Haritaki, some individuals may find that they have looser stools or more frequent bowel movements. After a few days, the body will typically begin to adjust, creating greater balance in the entire digestive system. This type of cleansing effect and subsequent digestive benefit is an important foundation of Ayurvedic medicine. The levels of Haritaki in Zrii have been carefully formulated to make it beneficial for wide-scale use by anyone. It has also been shown that Haritaki is not habit forming
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